Shoe insert

ABSTRACT

A shoe insert ( 1 ) for insertion into a shoe, comprising a first end ( 2 ) having a dome-shaped part ( 3 ) to be received in a toe portion of a shoe and an opposite second end ( 4 ) having a curved shell-shaped part ( 5 ) configured to act as a shoe horn, wherein the shoe insert ( 1 ) further comprises a connecting part ( 6 ) connecting the first end and the second end ( 2, 4 ), wherein the first end ( 2 ), the second end ( 4 ) and the connecting part ( 6 ) arranged there between are integrally formed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe insert, in particular to a shoe insert configured to maintain the shape of a toe portion of a shoe when not in use.

BACKGROUND ART

US patent publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,161 describes an apparatus having a shoe and a shoe insert. The shoe insert is removable positioned within a toe portion of the shoe. The shoe insert is of a hollow construction and opens across a bottom of said shoe insert. The shoe insert has a shape which matches the shape of an interior of the toe portion. A handle portion having an inwardly extending ridge is formed at an end of the shoe insert. The handle has a size and shape suitable for grasping by human fingers.

Known shoe inserts, such as those described above, may provide a handle portion for inspection, insertion and removal of a shoe insert. However, such known handle portions lack usability due to, for example, their poor reachability within a shoe when the shoe insert is positioned in the shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a shoe insert with improved usability by allowing for easier insertion and adjustability of the shoe insert as well as removal of the shoe insert from a shoe. Furthermore, the shoe insert provides improved versatility and incorporates a design that minimizes production costs.

According to the present invention, a shoe insert of the type defined in the preamble is provided comprising a first end having a dome-shaped part to be received in a toe portion of a shoe and an opposite second end having a curved shell-shaped part configured to act as a shoe horn, wherein the shoe insert further comprises a connecting part connecting the first end and the second end, wherein the first end, the second end and the connecting part there between are integrally formed.

The dome-shaped part of the shoe insert maintains the shape of the shoe when not in use whilst the curved shell-shaped part provides not only improved reachability within the shoe for insertion, inspection and removal of the shoe insert, but it also provides an integrated shoe horn where the dome-shaped part acts as an ergonomically shaped grip portion.

The shoe insert of the present invention can be manufactured cost effectively as the first end, the second end and the connecting part of the shoe insert are integrally formed, allowing for mass production through e.g. injection moulding or cold stamping.

In an embodiment, the dome-shaped part comprises a convex dome surface and the curved shell-shaped part comprises a convex shoe horn surface, wherein the convex dome surface and the convex shoe horn surface are arranged in opposite facing directions. In this embodiment the convex dome surface allows for snug engagement with an inner surface of a toe portion of a shoe, such as the toe box or vamp. And because of the opposite facing directions of the convex surfaces, the convex shoe horn surface allows for stable engagement of the second end of the shoe insert with an insole portion of the shoe, so that he shoe insert remains properly positioned with the toe portion of the shoe whilst the second end can be reached conveniently for inspection and removal of the shoe insert.

In a further embodiment the connecting part of the shoe insert comprises a convex connecting surface and the curved shell-shaped part further comprises a concave shoe horn surface. Here, the convex connecting surface smoothly connects the convex dome surface with the concave shoe horn surface, so that an inner surface of a toe portion of a shoe is evenly supported and does not engage relatively sharp ridges, which would leave marks in the shoe when the shoe insert is inserted for longer periods of time. The concave shoe horn surface of the curved shell-shaped part improves ergonomic engagement with a heel when the shoe insert is used as a shoe horn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a shoe insert according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a shoe insert according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a shoe insert according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of stacked shoe inserts utilizing alignment members according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of stacked shoe inserts utilizing alignment members according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the shoe fashion industry it is known that maintaining the shape of a shoe is of paramount importance when the shoe is stored and displayed in shops to potential buyers. This is particularly the case for the most forward part of the shoe such as the toe portion, sometimes referred to as the toe box or vamp. Furthermore, among shoe owners there is need to maintain the original shape of the shoe as long as possible so as to be able to enjoy the design of the shoe for longer periods of time.

It is known that maintaining the shape of a shoe can be accomplished through a shoe insert which is continuously pushed into a toe portion of the shoe by a tensioning member that is configured to forcibly push the shoe insert into the toe portion whilst pushing against an inner surface of the heel counter of the shoe in opposite direction. Although the known method of maintaining the shape of a shoe has proven to be effective, it is effective for relatively strong shoes made of leather without causing damage thereto as a result of tensioning forces. However, for delicate shoes such as sneakers it is generally not advisable to continuously and forcibly push a shoe insert into a toe portion of the sneaker to prevent overstretching the seams of the shoe.

It is further known that maintaining the shape of a shoe can also be accomplished by a shoe insert which is not tensioned when positioned in the shoe, such as the known shoe insert as described above. However, handling, inspection and removing of known shoe inserts can be cumbersome due to poor reachability within the shoe.

Based on the above observations there is a need for a shoe insert which is suitable for delicate shoes such as sneakers, athletic footwear, ballerinas and the like, and wherein the shoe insert allows the shape of the shoe to be maintained whilst preventing any damage done to the shoe over prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, there is a need for a shoe insert that has improved versatility and is easy to insert, inspect and remove from a shoe. Also, there is need for a shoe insert that comprises a minimum of components and is cheap to manufacture, so that it may be included with a pair of shoes if so desired.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a three dimensional view and side view, respectively, of a shoe insert 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments shown, the shoe insert 1 comprises a first end 2 having a dome-shaped part 3 to be received in a toe portion of a shoe and an opposite second end 4 having a curved shell-shaped part 5 configured to act as a shoe horn. The shoe insert 1 further comprises a connecting part 6 connecting the first end 2 and the second end 2, 4, wherein the connecting part 6, the first end 2 and the second end 4 are integrally formed.

The dome-shaped part 3 of the shoe insert 1 is configured to maintain the shape of a shoe when not in use whilst the curved shell-shaped part 5 provides improved controllability and reachability for insertion, inspection and removal of the shoe insert 1. Furthermore, the curved shell-shaped part 5 also provides an integrated shoe horn wherein the dome-shaped part 3 acts as an ergonomically shaped handle part. That is, when using the shoe insert 1 as a shoe horn, the dome-shaped part 3 fits comfortably and securely within a user's hand to allow for controlled guidance of a heel portion of a foot into the heel counter of a shoe. Furthermore, as the first end 2, the second end 4 and the connecting part 6 of the shoe insert 1 are integrally formed, the number of separate components is minimized allowing for cost effective manufacturing of the shoe insert 1. In an exemplary embodiment, the shoe insert 1 may be injection moulded, so wherein the first end 2, the connecting part 6, and the second end 4 readily form a single piece component. Advantageous material for manufacturing the shoe insert 1 may be e.g. plastic, aluminium or wood.

In an advantageous embodiment, the dome-shaped part 3 comprises a convex dome surface 7 and wherein the curved shell-shaped part 5 comprises a convex shoe horn surface 8. The convex dome surface 7 and the convex shoe horn surface 8 are arranged in opposite facing directions. In this embodiment the convex surfaces 7, 8 of the dome-shaped part 3 and curved shell-shaped part 5 face opposite directions. This is clarified by the depicted normal vectors C₁ and C₂ of the convex dome surface 7 and the convex shoe horn surface 8, respectively. As shown, the normal vectors C₁, C₂ point in opposite directions indicating that the convex dome surface 7 and convex shoe horn surface 8 are arranged in opposing fashion. An advantageous effect of this opposing arrangement of convex surfaces 7, 8 is that when the convex dome surface 7 snugly engages with an inner surface of the toe portion of a shoe, then the opposing convex shoe horn surface 8 engages an insole portion of the shoe and as such provide positional stability to the shoe insert 1. Also, because of the convexity of the curved shell-shaped part 5, the convex shoe horn surface 8 leaves no marks on the insole portion during prolonged insertion of the shoe insert 1. Moreover, the second end 4 of the short insert 1 remains conveniently accessible for adjusting or removing the shoe insert 1.

In an embodiment, the connecting part 6 comprises a convex connecting surface 9 and wherein the curved shell-shaped part 5 further comprises a concave shoe horn surface 10. The convex connecting surface 9 connects the convex dome surface 7 with the concave shoe horn surface 10. In this embodiment the convex connecting surface 9 smoothly connects the convex dome surface 7 with the concave shoe horn surface 10 so that an inner surface of a toe portion of a shoe is evenly and smoothly supported to avoid leaving marks on/in the shoe as the dome-shaped part 3 transitions into the connecting part 6. The concave shoe horn surface 10 on the other hand improves ergonomic engagement with the heel of a foot when the second end 4 of the shoe insert is used as a shoe horn.

In a further embodiment, the connecting part 6 comprises a concave connecting surface 11 and wherein the dome-shaped part 3 comprises a concave dome surface 12, wherein the concave connecting surface 11 connects the concave dome surface 12 with the convex shoe horn surface 8. In this embodiment, the dome-shaped part 3 may be viewed as being thin and curved, i.e. having a thin curved body with an “inner” concave dome surface 11 as indicated in FIG. 1. The connecting part 6 may then be envisaged as a thin curved body as well, having a concave connecting surface 11 that allows a smoothed transition between the concave dome surface 12 and the convex shoe horn surface 8. The shoe insert 1 according to this embodiment is a relative thin curved article that is readily obtained through injection moulding.

Note that in an alternative embodiment, the dome-shaped part 3 may be a solid body, which may exhibit increased weight and reduced deformability of the dome-shaped 3 and may be advantageous for stronger and stiffer shoes compared to sneakers for example. In an embodiment, the dome-shaped part 3 may be a solid body having a substantially flat or slight curved bottom surface for snug engagement with an insole portion of a shoe. This allows friction engagement between the dome-shaped part 3 and the shoe to increase when the shoe insert 1 is snugly positioned within a toe portion. The increased friction engagement between the dome-shaped part 3, i.e. the lower surface thereof, further improves positional stability of the shoe insert 1 within the shoe.

In light of the embodiments described above, the dome-shaped part 3 is not to be construed as necessarily being a thin curved body or a solid body, However, in many advantageous embodiments the dome-shaped part 3 does comprise a convex dome surface 7 as well as a concave dome surface 12, thereby providing a dome-shaped part 3 formed as a relatively thin shell-shaped body as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The curved shell-shaped part 5 of the second end 4 on the other hand may be construed as being a relative thin, curved shell body in all embodiment, thereby allowing the second end 4 of the shoe insert 1 to be conveniently utilized as a shoe horn. Note that the word “shell” is used here to refer to a relatively thin curved object.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a shoe insert 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the dome-shaped part 3 comprises a convex dome surface 7 as well as a concave dome surface 12, thereby providing the dome-shaped part 3 as a relatively thin shell shaped body which is light weight yet allows for snug engagement with a toe portion of a shoe for support thereof.

In an advantageous embodiment, the dome-shaped part 3 may further comprise a lower edge portion 13 configured to engage with a most forward insole portion of a shoe, wherein the lower edge portion 13 comprises a curved recess 14, e.g. a curved recess in upward direction as depicted. In this embodiment the curved recess 14 may be positioned at a midpoint of the most lower edge portion 13 as it extends from one side of the dome-shaped part 3 to the other side thereof. The curved recess 14 allows the dome-shaped part 3 to snugly engage a variety of round and pointed toe box geometries and a such ensure that sufficient wedged engagement of the dome-shaped part 3 with a toe portion is achieved. Also, the curved recess 14 ensures that the dome-shaped part 3 can be inserted sufficiently deep into a toe portion as far as possible.

In a further embodiment, the connecting part 6 may comprises a recessed lengthwise side edge 15, which allows improved handling of the shoe insert 1 such as improved gripping engagement with, for example, a user's thumb with the connecting part 6.

As mentioned earlier, the connecting part 6 may comprises a convex connecting surface 9 connecting the convex dome surface 7 with the concave shoe horn surface 10. In FIGS. 2 and 3 it is clearly shown how the convex dome surface 7 smoothly transitions to the concave shoe horn surface 10 along the convex connecting surface 9. In particular, in an embodiment, the connecting part 6 is an arcuate connecting part 6 in lengthwise direction of the shoe insert 1, wherein the arcuate connecting part 6 forms an apex as measured in an upward direction as depicted in FIG. 2. The apex of the arcuate connecting part 6 provides a smooth bend in the shoe insert 1 between the dome-shaped part 3 and the curved shell-shaped part 5 to avoid concentrated, localized pressure point that could leave marks on the shoe.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a top view and a cross-section, respectively, of a stacked arrangement of two shoe inserts 1, 1 a according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments shown, the dome-shaped part 3 of the shoe insert 1 comprises a first alignment member 16 configured to cooperatively engage with first alignment member 16 a of a dome-shaped part 3 a of another shoe insert la. Such a first alignment member 16 allows a shoe insert 1 to be stacked on top of another shoe insert 1 a more securely and with greater accuracy, and to avoid sliding movement between stacked shoe inserts 1, 1 a. In an exemplary embodiment, such as depicted in FIG. 5, the first alignment member 16 of the dome-shaped part 3 may comprise a recessed portion configured to cooperatively engage a protruding portion of a dome-shaped part 3 a of another shoe insert 1 a. Here, the recessed portion is seen as a recessed portion of the convex dome surface 7 of the dome-shaped part 3.

In an exemplary embodiment, wherein the dome-shaped part 3 may be seen as a thin shell-shaped body, the first alignment member 16 may be a tapered, e.g. cone shaped, inwardly protruding member simultaneously providing a recessed portion to the convex dome surface 7 as well as a protruding portion to the concave dome surface 12 of the dome-shaped part 3. This allows the protruding portion of the dome-shaped part 3 to be received by a recessed portion of a dome-shaped part 3 a of another shoe insert 1 a. Then as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of shoe inserts 1, 1 a can be stacked accurately in male-female fashion such that mutual sliding movement of the stacked shoe inserts 1, 1 a is avoided.

In a further embodiment, the connecting part 6 of the shoe insert 1 may comprise a second alignment member 17 configured to cooperatively engage a second alignment member 17 a of a connecting part 6 a of another shoe insert 1 a. Such a second alignment member 17 allows a shoe insert 1 to be stacked on top of another shoe insert 1 a more securely and with further accuracy. Note that the shoe insert 1 may comprises both the first alignment member 16 of the dome-shaped part 3 as well as the second alignment member 17 of the connecting part 6. In this way a plurality of shoe inserts 1 can be stacked conveniently and securely, further eliminating sliding as well as rotating movement between stacked shoe inserts 1, 1 a.

In an embodiment, the second alignment member 16 may be a inwardly protruding member simultaneously providing a recessed portion to the convex connecting surface 9 as well as a protruding portion to the concave connecting surface 11 of the connecting part 6. The inwardly protruding member may be a tapered (e.g. cone-shaped) inwardly protruding member. In this way the protruding portion of the concave connecting surface 11 may cooperatively engage a recessed portion of a convex connecting surface 9a of another shoe insert 1 a.

In an alternative embodiment, the second alignment member 17 of the connecting part 6 may comprise a magnetic connector configured to magnetically engage a magnetic connector of a connecting part 6 a of another shoe insert 1 a. In this embodiment, alignment between stacked shoe inserts 1, 1 a is accomplished through magnetic engagement between the connecting parts 6, 6 a, and wherein the stacked shoe inserts 1, 1 a are releasable attached to one another for facilitating storage of a plurality of shoe inserts 1, 1 a.

The present invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims. 

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A shoe insert for insertion into a shoe, comprising a first end having a dome-shaped part to be received in a toe portion of a shoe and an opposite second end having a curved shell-shaped part configured to act as a shoe horn, wherein the shoe insert further comprises a connecting part connecting the first end and the second end, wherein the first end, the second end and the connecting part arranged there between are integrally formed, and wherein the dome-shaped part comprises a convex dome surface and wherein the curved shell-shaped part comprises a convex shoe horn surface, wherein the convex dome surface and the convex shoe horn surface are arranged in opposite facing directions.
 12. The shoe insert according to claim 11, wherein the connecting part comprises a convex connecting surface and wherein the curved shell-shaped part further comprises a concave shoe horn surface, wherein the convex connecting surface connects the convex dome surface with the concave shoe horn surface.
 13. The shoe insert according to claim 11, wherein the connecting part further comprises a concave connecting surface and wherein the dome-shaped part comprises a concave dome surface, wherein the concave connecting surface connects the concave dome surface with the convex shoe horn surface.
 14. The shoe insert according to claim 11, wherein the dome-shaped part is a solid body.
 15. The shoe insert according to any of claims 11, wherein the dome-shaped part further comprises a lower edge portion configured to engage with a most forward insole portion of a shoe, wherein the lower edge portion comprises a curved recess.
 16. The shoe insert according to any of claims 11, wherein the connecting part comprises a recessed lengthwise side edge.
 17. The shoe insert according to any of claims 11, wherein the dome-shaped part of the shoe insert comprises a first alignment member configured to cooperatively engage a first alignment member of a dome-shaped part of another shoe insert.
 18. The shoe insert according to any of claims 11, wherein the connecting part of the shoe insert comprises a second alignment member configured to cooperatively engage a second alignment member of a connecting part of another shoe insert.
 19. The shoe insert according to claim 18, wherein the second alignment member comprises a magnetic connector configured to magnetically engage a magnetic connector of a connecting part of another shoe insert. 